Aspiring Civil Engineer cops Prime Minister’s Award

Halei Douglas has exemplified her commitment to science and engineering through an educational journey that includes participation in the Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPICE) at The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. Upon returning, she took the initiative to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) group at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC).

“I was then set on my career vision of how great I can be, of what I wanted to be, what I was passionate about- that is civil engineering.”

Along with her colleagues Shenice Harper and Kerese Cozier, Douglas founded the STEM-focused group; The Intellect Collective Club (TICC),and served as its president in her second year at college. It was created to address the lack of extra-curricular opportunities in STEM subjects. This club has since become a staple for students at the College to engage in scientific and engineering projects.

Motivated by the increasing prevalence of natural disasters in the Caribbean, Douglas has chosen to pursue Civil Engineering, with a concentration on Structural Engineering.

“These worsening weather patterns with climate change spoke to me. We need to update our building codes so that our homes, our infrastructure, bridges—all could withstand even a Category 5 hurricane,” Douglas told SEARCHLIGHT.

Currently, the aspiring engineer is applying to universities that will allow her to advance her studies, and develop strategies for enhancing local building codes to meet climate-resilient standards.

She was recently honoured as a National Scholar and is one of four SVGCC graduates to receive the Prime Minister’s Award. Douglas graduated with distinction from both the St. Vincent Girls’ High School (GHS), and the SVGCC, where she excelled and made significant contributions through community, and extracurricular initiatives.

Her academic journey commenced at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School, where she was recognised as one of the top 13 students for that year. She obtained Grade 1 passes in all 14 subjects undertaken on completing secondary school, and went on to the SVGCC.

In addition to her academic pursuits at the GHS, Douglas was actively involved with the St. Vincent Girl Guides Association, where she cultivated leadership and organisational skills, while managing various extracurricular activities.

After her exemplary performance in college, Douglas began tutoring, and subsequently took up a position teaching Mathematics at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School(TSSS) under the SET programme. There, she identified a lack of appreciation for mathematics among her students and developed methods to make the subject more relatable.

“I had to go back to the drawing board and rethink how I could relate a lesson to them in a way that they would find what they’re learning significant, relating it to some life application,” Douglas said.

Douglas is advising others to set their aspirations high and avoid mediocrity. She is also advising students contemplating entering college, or nearing the end of their final year to “dream of what can be for you, and what impact you would like to have on the world.”